Projection apparatus

ABSTRACT

A projection apparatus includes a light source apparatus, a first reflective optical element that reflects the light outputted by the light source apparatus, a second reflective optical element that reflects the light reflected off the first reflective optical element, and a projection optical apparatus that enters the light from the second reflective optical element. The projection optical apparatus has an entrance optical path, a deflection member that deflects the direction of the light traveling along the entrance optical path, and a passage optical path along which the light that exits out of the deflection member travels. The extension of the light exiting optical axis of the light source apparatus does not coincide with the extension of the optical axis of the entrance optical path and intersects with the extension containing the optical axis of the passage optical path.

The present application is based on, and claims priority from JPApplication Serial Number 2020-174988, filed Oct. 16, 2020, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a projection apparatus.

2. Related Art

There has been a known projector including a light source, a lightmodulation apparatus that modulates the light outputted from the lightsource, and a projection optical apparatus that projects the lightmodulated by the light modulation apparatus (see JP-A-2013-8044 andJP-A-2011-75898, for example).

In the projector (projection-type display apparatus) described inJP-A-2013-8044, the reflection mirror changes the traveling direction ofthe light outputted from the light source by about 90°, and the videodisplay device is then irradiated with the light reflected off thereflection mirror. The optical image modulated by the video displaydevice enters the reflective optical system via the transmissive opticalsystem including the front lens group and the rear lens group and isreflected off the reflective optical system to form an image on thetable.

In the projection-type display apparatus described as another example inJP-A-2013-8044, the video display device is irradiated with the lightoutputted from the light source. The optical image modulated by thevideo display device is incident on the deflection mirror via the frontlens group. After the traveling direction of the optical image ischanged by the deflection mirror by 90°, the optical image is incidenton the reflective optical system via the rear lens group and reflectedoff the reflective optical system.

In the projector described in JP-A-2011-75898, the light from the lightsource unit is incident on the display device via the light guidingoptical system. The display device is provided on the light incidentside of the projection-side optical system, and an image outputted fromthe display device is projected onto the screen via the projection-sideoptical system.

In the one projection-type display apparatus described inJP-A-2013-8044, the video display device is provided on the lightincident side of the transmissive optical system. In the projectordescribed in JP-A-2011-75898, the display device is provided on thelight incident side of the projection-side optical system. In theconfigurations described above, the dimension of the projector along thedepth direction, that is, in the direction in which the projectorprojects an image, tends to increase.

On the other hand, in the other projection-type display apparatusdescribed in JP-A-2013-8044, the transmissive optical system is sodisposed that the optical axis of the front lens group intersects withthe optical axis of the rear lens group. When a large light sourcehaving a large dimension in the depth direction is employed, however,the dimension of the projector in the depth direction tends to increase.

There has therefore been a demand for a projection apparatus having aconfiguration that allows reduction in the size of the projectionapparatus.

SUMMARY

A projection apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosureincludes a light source apparatus that outputs light via an exit port, afirst reflective optical element that reflects at least part of thelight outputted by the light source apparatus, a second reflectiveoptical element disposed in an optical path of the light reflected offthe first reflective optical element, and a projection optical apparatusdisposed in an optical axis of light that exits out of the secondreflective optical element. The projection optical apparatus has anentrance optical path that the light that exits out of the secondreflective optical element enters, a deflection member that deflects adirection of the light traveling along the entrance optical path, and apassage optical path along which the light that exits out of thedeflection member travels. An extension of a light exiting optical axisof the light source apparatus does not coincide with an extension of anoptical axis of the entrance optical path and intersects with anextension containing an optical axis of the passage optical path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the exterior appearance of aprojector according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view showing the exterior appearance ofthe projector according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows the internal configuration of the projector according tothe first embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows the internal configuration of the projector according tothe first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of theprojector according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the configuration of an imageprojection apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a light source according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows the optical axis of each optical part in the imageprojection apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing a variation of the imageprojection apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows the optical axis of each optical part in the variation ofthe image projection apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the configuration of an imageprojection apparatus of a projector according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows the internal configuration of a projector according to athird embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the exterior appearance of aprojector according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows the internal configuration of the projector according tothe fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 shows the internal configuration of the projector according tothe fourth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described belowwith reference to the drawings.

Schematic Configuration of Projector

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing the exterior appearance of aprojector 1A according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is aperspective view of the projector 1A viewed from the front side, andFIG. 2 is a perspective view of the projector 1A viewed from the rearside.

The projector 1A according to the present embodiment is a projectionapparatus that modulates the light outputted from a light source togenerate an image according to image information and projects thegenerated image on a projection receiving surface, such as a screen. Theprojector 1A includes an exterior enclosure 2A, as shown in FIGS. 1 and2.

Configuration of Exterior Enclosure

The exterior enclosure 2A forms the exterior of the projector 1A andaccommodates a controller 3, a power supply 4, a cooler 5A, an imageprojection apparatus 6, and other components that will be describedlater. The exterior enclosure 2A is formed in a substantially box-likeshape and has a top surface 21, a bottom surface 22, a front surface 23,a rear surface 24, a left side surface 25, and a right side surface 26.

The top surface 21 has a recess 211 recessed toward the bottom surface22 and a passage port 212 provided at the bottom of the recess 211. Animage projected from a projection optical apparatus 9, which will bedescribed later, passes through the passage port 211.

A plurality of legs 221, which are in contact an installation surface,are provided at the bottom surface 22.

The right side surface 26 has an opening 261, as shown in FIG. 1. In thepresent embodiment, the opening 261 functions as an introduction portvia which gases outside the exterior enclosure 2A are introduced as acooling gas into the exterior enclosure 2A.

The rear surface 24 has a recess 241 recessed toward the front surface23 and a plurality of terminals 242 provided at the bottom of the recess241, as shown in FIG. 2.

The left side surface 25 has an opening 251. In the present embodiment,the opening 251 functions as a discharge port via which the cooling gashaving cooled cooling targets in the exterior enclosure 2A isdischarged.

In the following description, three directions perpendicular to oneanother are called directions +X, +Y, and +Z. The direction +X is thedirection from the front surface 23 toward the rear surface 24, thedirection +Y is the direction from the bottom surface 22 toward the topsurface 21, and the direction +Z is the direction from the left sidesurface 25 toward the right side surface 26. Although not shown, thedirection opposite to the direction +X is a direction −X, the directionopposite to the direction +Y is a direction −Y, and the directionopposite to the direction +Z is a direction −Z.

FIG. 3 shows the internal configuration of the projector 1A viewed inthe direction +Y.

The projector 1A includes the controller 3, the power supply 4, thecooler 5A, and the image projection apparatus 6, which are accommodatedin the exterior enclosure 2A, as shown in FIG. 3.

The controller 3 is a circuit substrate provided with a CPU (centralprocessing unit) and other arithmetic processing circuits and controlsthe operation of the projector 1A.

The power supply 4 supplies electronic parts that form the projector 1Awith electric power. In the present embodiment, the power supply 4transforms externally supplied electric power and supplies theelectronic parts with the transformed electric power.

The controller 3 and the power supply 4 are provided in the exteriorenclosure 2A and located in a portion shifted in the direction +X fromthe center of the exterior enclosure 2A. That is, the controller 3 andthe power supply 4 are provided on the opposite side of the projectionoptical apparatus 9, which is located at the center of the exteriorenclosure 2A in the direction +Z, from a light source apparatus 7 and animage generation apparatus 8A.

Configuration of Cooler

FIG. 4 shows the internal configuration of the projector 1A viewed inthe direction −Y. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the internalconfiguration of the projector 1A viewed in the directions −X and −Y.

The cooler 5A cools cooling targets that form the projector 1A.Specifically, the cooler 5A introduces gases outside the exteriorenclosure 2A as the cooling gas into the exterior enclosure 2A and sendsthe introduced cooling gas to the cooling targets to cool the coolingtargets. The cooler 5A includes a filter 51, a duct 52, and fans 53 to56, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.

The filter 51 is fitted to the opening 261 in an attachable anddetachable manner. The filter 51 removes dust contained in the gasesintroduced as the cooling gas into the exterior enclosure 2A via theopening 261.

The duct 52 extends from a portion shifted in the direction +Z in theexterior enclosure 2A in the direction −Z beyond the center of theexterior enclosure 2A in the direction +Z. One end of the duct 52 iscoupled to the filter 51 provided in the opening 261, and the other endof the duct 52 is located in a position shifted in the direction −Z fromthe center of the exterior enclosure 2A in the direction +Z. Key partsof the duct 52 are disposed in positions shifted in the direction −Yfrom the controller 3, the power supply 4, and the projection opticalapparatus 9. The duct 52 guides part of the cooling gas having passedthrough the filter 51 into the space shifted in the direction −Z fromthe projection optical apparatus 9. The key parts of the duct 52 mayinstead be disposed in positions shifted in the direction +Y from thecontroller 3, the power supply 4, and the projection optical apparatus9.

The fan 53 is disposed in the exterior enclosure 2A in a positionsubstantially at the center in the direction +Z but shifted in thedirection +X. The fan 53 sends in the direction −Z the cooling gashaving passed through the filter 51 and flowed via the controller 3 andthe power supply 4. The thus flowing cooling gas cools the controller 3and the power supply 4.

The fans 54 and 55 are disposed in the space surrounded by the imageprojection apparatus 6 in the exterior enclosure 2A. Specifically, thefans 54 and 55 are disposed in positions sandwiched between the lightsource apparatus 7 and the projection optical apparatus 9, which formthe image projection apparatus 6, in the direction +Z and shifted in thedirection −X from the image generation apparatus 8A. That is, the fans54 and 55 are provided in the space between the light source apparatus 7and the projection optical apparatus 9, which form the image projectionapparatus 6, and on the opposite side of the extension of the lightexiting optical axis of the light source apparatus 7, which will bedescribed later, from the light incident optical axis of the projectionoptical apparatus 9, which will be described later.

The fan 54 sucks part of the cooling gas having flowed in the direction−X through the duct 52 and sends the sucked cooling gas to a lightmodulation apparatus 85, which will be described later, in the imagegeneration apparatus 8A to cool the light modulation apparatus 85.

The fan 55 sucks the other part of the cooling gas having flowed in thedirection −X through the duct 52 and sends the sucked cooling gas to aheat dissipating member 7025 of the light source apparatus 7 to cool theheat dissipating member 7025.

The fan 56 is disposed in the vicinity of the opening 251 in theexterior enclosure 2A. The fan 56 sucks the cooling gas having cooledthe cooling targets and discharges the cooling gas out of the exteriorenclosure 2A via the opening 251.

Configuration of Image Projection Apparatus

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the configuration of the imageprojection apparatus 6.

The image projection apparatus 6 generates an image according to animage signal inputted from the controller 3 and projects the generatedimage. The image projection apparatus 6 includes the light sourceapparatus 7, the image generation apparatus 8A, and the projectionoptical apparatus 9, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6.

Configuration of Projection Optical Apparatus

The configuration of the projection optical apparatus 9 will first bedescribed.

The projection optical apparatus 9 projects the image light generated bythe image generation apparatus 8A onto the projection receiving surfacedescribed above. That is, the projection optical apparatus 9 projectsthe light modulated by the light modulation apparatus 85, which formsthe image generation apparatus 8A. The projection optical apparatus 9includes a lens enclosure 91, an entrance optical path 92, a deflectionmember 93, a passage optical path 94, and an optical path changingmember 95, as shown in FIG. 6.

The lens enclosure 91 is configured to have an inverted L-like shapewhen the lens enclosure 91 is so viewed in the direction +Y that thedirection +X is oriented upward. The lens enclosure 91 includes anentrance section 911, a deflection section 912, and an exit section 913.

The entrance section 911 forms the entrance optical path 92.

The deflection section 912 is a portion that couples the entrancesection 911 to the exit section 913 and deflects in the direction −X thedirection in which the image light travels along the entrance opticalpath 92 in the entrance section 911. The deflection member 93 isprovided in the deflection section 912.

The exit section 913 is a portion that extends along the direction −Xfrom the deflection section 912, forms the passage optical path 94, andaccommodates the optical path changing member 95. An opening 914 (seeFIG. 3), via which the image light that travels in the directionconverted by the optical path changing member 95 passes, is provided inaccordance with the optical path changing member 95 at a+Y-direction-side portion of the exit section 913.

The entrance optical path 92 is an optical path which is provided in theentrance section 911 and along which the image light is incident fromthe image generation apparatus 8A. A plurality of lenses 921 supportedby the entrance section 911 are provided in the entrance optical path92.

The deflection member 93 deflects at an acute angle and reflects in thedirection −X the direction of the image light having traveled along theentrance optical path 92. The deflection member 93 is formed, forexample, of a reflection mirror.

The passage optical path 94 is provided in the exit section 913extending along the direction −X, and the image light from thedeflection member 93 passes in the direction −X along the passageoptical path 94. A plurality of lenses 941 supported by the exit section913 are present in the passage optical path 94.

The optical path changing member 95 is provided in a position shifted inthe direction −X, which is the direction toward the light exiting sideof the passage optical path 94, in the exit section 913. The opticalpath changing member 95 is an aspheric mirror that reverses thedirection of the image light having traveled along the passage opticalpath 94. The image light reflected off the optical path changing member95 passes through the opening 914 and diffuses while traveling in thedirection +Y as the image light travels in the direction +X, which isthe direction opposite to the direction in which the image light travelsalong the passage optical path 94. A large-screen image can thus bedisplayed on the projection receiving surface even when the distancebetween the projector 1A and the projection receiving surface is short.The opposite direction described above includes an obliquely upwardprojection direction achieved by the aspheric mirror or a projectiondirection toward the rear surface 24 achieved by two reflection mirrorsthat deflect the optical path.

The image light outputted from the image generation apparatus 8A entersthe entrance section 911 and travels along the entrance optical path 92.That is, the light incident optical axis of the projection opticalapparatus 9 coincides with the optical axis of the entrance optical path92. The optical axis of the entrance optical path 92 inclines withrespect to the directions +X and +Z and intersects with the passageoptical path 94, which is parallel to the direction −X, at an angleother than 90° at the deflection member 93. In detail, the angle ofintersection of the optical axis of the entrance optical path 92 and theoptical axis of the passage optical path 94 is an acute angle, forexample, about 77.5°.

In the present embodiment, the optical axis of the entrance optical path92 is parallel to the light exiting optical axis of the light sourceapparatus 7 and is shifted in the direction +X from the light exitingoptical axis of the light source apparatus 7.

In the following description, the direction in which the image lighttravels along the entrance optical path 92 is a direction +S when viewedin the direction +Y, and the direction perpendicular to the direction +Sand extending from the front surface 23 toward the rear surface 24 is adirection +T. The directions+S and +T are each perpendicular to thedirection +Y and intersect with the directions+X and +Z. Although notshown, the direction opposite to the direction +S is a direction −S, andthe direction opposite to the direction +T is a direction −T.

Configuration of Light Source Apparatus

The light source apparatus 7 is disposed in a position shifted in thedirection −Z from the projection optical apparatus 9 and outputs whitelight WL to the image generation apparatus 8A. The light sourceapparatus 7 includes a light source enclosure 701 and the followingcomponents accommodated in the light source enclosure 701: a lightsource 702; an afocal optical element 703; a first phase retarder 704; adiffusive transmission element 705; a light combiner 706; a first lightcollector 707; a wavelength conversion apparatus 708; a second phaseretarder 709; a second light collector 710; a diffusive optical element711; and a third phase retarder 712.

The light source 702, the afocal optical element 703, the first phaseretarder 704, the diffusive transmission element 705, the light combiner706, the second phase retarder 709, the second light collector 710, andthe diffusive optical element 711 are arranged along an illuminationoptical axis Ax1 set in the light source apparatus 7. The illuminationoptical axis Ax1 is an illumination optical axis parallel to thedirection +T.

The wavelength conversion apparatus 708, the first light collector 707,the light combiner 706, and the third phase retarder 712 are arrangedalong an illumination optical axis Ax2 set in the light source apparatus7 and perpendicular to the illumination optical axis Ax1. Theillumination optical axis Ax2 is an illumination optical axis parallelto the direction +S, and the extension of the illumination optical axisAx2 coincides with the light exiting optical axis of the light sourceapparatus 7.

Configuration of Light Source Enclosure

The light source enclosure 701 is an enclosure that dust is unlikely toenter and is formed in a substantially box-like shape having a dimensionin the direction +T greater than the dimension in the direction +S. Thelight source enclosure 701 has an exit port 7011, via which the whitelight WL exits.

The light source apparatus 7 outputs the white light WL in the direction+S along the light exiting optical axis of the exit port 7011. The lightexiting optical axis of the exit port 7011 is the optical axis of thelight that exits via the exit port 7011 and is also the light exitingoptical axis of the light source apparatus 7. In the present embodiment,the light exiting optical axis of the light source apparatus 7 isparallel to the direction +S and further parallel to the light incidentoptical axis of the projection optical apparatus 9.

Configuration of Light Source

The light source 702 outputs light in the direction +X. The light source702 includes a support member 7020, a plurality of solid-state lightemitters 7021, and a plurality of collimator lenses 7022.

The support member 7020 supports the plurality of solid-state lightemitters 7021 arranged in an array in a plane perpendicular to theillumination optical axis Ax1. The support member 7020 is a member madeof metal, and heat of the plurality of solid-state light emitters 7021is transferred to the support member 7020.

The plurality of solid-state light emitters 7021 are each a lightemitter that emits s-polarized blue light. In detail, the solid-statelight emitters 7021 are each a semiconductor laser, and the blue lightemitted by each of the solid-state light emitters 7021 is, for example,laser light having a peak wavelength of 440 nm. The light exitingoptical axes of the plurality of solid-state light emitters 7021 extendalong the direction +X, and the solid-state light emitters 7021 eachemit the light in the direction +X.

The plurality of collimator lenses 7022 are provided in correspondencewith the plurality of solid-state light emitters 7021. The plurality ofcollimator lenses 7022 convert the blue light emitted from the pluralityof solid-state light emitters 7021 into parallelized light fluxes, whichenter the afocal optical element 703.

The light source 702 thus outputs linearly polarized blue light having asingle polarization direction, but not necessarily. The light source 702may instead be configured to output s-polarized blue light andp-polarized blue light. In this case, the first phase retarder 704 canbe omitted.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the light source 702 viewed in thedirection +X.

In addition to the configuration described above, the light source 702includes a heat receiving member 7023, heat pipes 7024, and the heatdissipating member 7025, as shown in FIG. 7.

The heat receiving member 7023 is provided on the opposite side of theplurality of solid-state light emitters 7021 from the light emittingside thereof, that is, in a position shifted in the direction +T fromthe plurality of solid-state light emitters 7021. The heat receivingmember 7023 is coupled to the support member 7020 in a heat transferablemanner and receives the heat of the plurality of solid-state lightemitters 7021 transferred to the support member 7020.

The heat pipes 7024 couple the heat receiving member 7023 to the heatdissipating member 7025 in a heat transferable manner and transfer theheat transferred to the heat receiving member 7023 to the heatdissipating member 7025. The number of heat pipes 7024 is not limited tothree and can be changed as appropriate.

The heat dissipating member 7025 is a heat sink with a plurality of finsand is provided in a position shifted in the direction −Y from the lightsource enclosure 701. The heat dissipating member 7025 dissipates theheat transferred from the heat receiving member 7023 via the heat pipes7024. The heat dissipating member 7025 is cooled by the cooling gascaused to flow by the fan 55. The plurality of solid-state lightemitters 7021 are thus cooled.

Configuration of Afocal Optical Element

The afocal optical element 703 shown in FIG. 6 reduces the diameter ofthe blue light flux incident from the light source 702. The afocaloptical element 703 is formed of a first lens 7031, which focuses thelight incident thereon, and a second lens 7032, which parallelizes thelight flux focused by the first lens 7031. The afocal optical element703 may be omitted.

Configuration of First Phase Retarder

The first phase retarder 704 is provided between the first lens 7031 andthe second lens 7032. The first phase retarder 704 converts one type oflinearly polarized light incident thereon into light containings-polarized blue light and p-polarized blue light.

A pivot apparatus may cause the first phase retarder 704 to pivot arounda pivotal axis extending along the illumination optical axis Ax1. Inthis case, the ratio between the s-polarized blue light and thep-polarized blue light in the light flux that exits out of the firstphase retarder 704 can be adjusted in accordance with the angle of thepivotal movement of the first phase retarder 704.

Configuration of Diffusive Transmission Element

The diffusive transmission element 705 homogenizes the illuminancedistribution of the blue light incident from the second lens 7032. Thediffusive transmission element 705 can, for example, have aconfiguration including a hologram, a configuration in which a pluralityof lenslets are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis,or a configuration in which a light passage surface is a rough surface.

The diffusive transmission element 705 may be replaced with ahomogenizer optical element including a pair of multi-lenses.

Configuration of Light Combiner

The blue light having passed through the diffusive transmission element705 is incident on the light combiner 706.

The light combiner 706 outputs a first portion of the light emitted fromthe plurality of solid-state light emitters 7021 toward a wavelengthconverter 7081 and a second portion of the light toward the diffusiveoptical element 711. In detail, the light combiner 706 is a polarizingbeam splitter that separates the s-polarized component and thep-polarized component contained in the light incident on the lightcombiner 706, reflects the s-polarized component, and transmits thep-polarized component. The light combiner 706 further has colorseparation characteristics that cause the light combiner 706 to transmitlight having a predetermined wavelength and longer wavelengthsirrespective of the polarization state of the light incident on thelight combiner 706, the s-polarized component or the p-polarizedcomponent. Therefore, out of the blue light incident from the diffusivetransmission element 705, the s-polarized blue light is reflected offthe light combiner 706 and enters the first light collector 707, and thep-polarized blue light passes through the light combiner 706 and entersthe second phase retarder 709.

The light combiner 706 may instead have the function of a half-silveredmirror that transmits part of the light incident from the diffusivetransmission element 705 and reflects the remaining light and thefunction of a dichroic mirror that reflects the blue light incident fromthe diffusive optical element 711 and transmits light incident from thewavelength conversion apparatus 708. In this case, the first phaseretarder 704 and the second phase retarder 709 can be omitted.

Configuration of First Light Collector

The first light collector 707 causes the blue light reflected off thelight combiner 706 to be collected on the wavelength conversionapparatus 708. Further, the first light collector 707 parallelizes thelight incident from the wavelength conversion apparatus 708. In thepresent embodiment, the first light collector 707 is formed of threelenses, but the number of lenses that form the first light collector 707is not limited to a specific number.

Configuration of Wavelength Conversion Apparatus

The wavelength conversion apparatus 708 converts the wavelength of thelight incident thereon. The wavelength conversion apparatus 708 includesthe wavelength converter 7081 and a rotator 7082.

Although not illustrated in detail, the wavelength converter 7081 is aphosphor wheel including a substrate and a phosphor layer provided atthe light incident surface of the substrate. The phosphor layer containsphosphor particles. The phosphor particles are excited with incidentblue light, which is excitation light, and emit fluorescence havingwavelengths longer than the wavelength of the incident blue light. Thefluorescence is, for example, light having a peak wavelength rangingfrom 500 to 700 nm and contains green light and red light. That is, thewavelength converter 7081 outputs fluorescence that is converted lighthaving wavelengths longer than the wavelength of the first portion ofthe blue light emitted by the solid-state light emitters 7021.

The rotator 7082 rotates the wavelength converter 7081 around an axis ofrotation extending along the illumination optical axis Ax2. The rotator7082 can be formed, for example, of a motor.

The thus configured wavelength converter 7081 outputs the fluorescencein the direction +S along the optical axis of the wavelength converter7081. The optical axis of the wavelength converter 7081 is perpendicularto the optical axes of the solid-state light emitters 7021, which extendalong the direction −T, and coincides with the extension of the lightexiting optical axis of the light source apparatus 7.

The fluorescence outputted from the wavelength converter 7081 passesthrough the first light collector 707 and the light combiner 706 alongthe illumination optical axis Ax2 and enters the third phase retarder712.

Configuration of Second Phase Retarder and Second Light Collector

The second phase retarder 709 is disposed between the light combiner 706and the second light collector 710. The second phase retarder 709converts the p-polarized blue light having passed through the lightcombiner 706 into circularly polarized blue light.

The second light collector 710 causes the blue light incident from thesecond phase retarder 709 to be collected on the diffusive opticalelement 711. Further, the second light collector 710 parallelizes theblue light incident from the diffusive optical element 711. The numberof lenses that form the second light collector 710 can be changed asappropriate.

Configuration of Diffusive Optical Element

The diffusive optical element 711 diffusively reflects in the direction+T the second portion of the blue light incident thereon in thedirection −T in such a way that the reflected blue light diffuses at anangle of diffusion equal to that of the fluorescence outputted from thewavelength conversion apparatus 708. The diffusive optical element 711is a reflection member that reflects the blue light incident thereon inthe Lambertian reflection scheme.

The optical axis of the diffusive optical element 711 coincides with theoptical axis of the entire solid-state light emitters 7021 and isperpendicular to the optical axis of the wavelength converter 7081. Thediffusive optical element 711 is disposed in a position shifted in thedirection −T from the light exiting optical axis of the light sourceapparatus 7. That is, the diffusive optical element 711 is disposed onthe opposite side of the light exiting optical axis of the light sourceapparatus 7 from the optical axis of the entrance optical path 92.

The light source apparatus 7 may include a rotator that rotates thediffusive optical element 711 around an axis of rotation parallel to theillumination optical axis Ax1.

The blue light reflected off the diffusive optical element 711 passesthrough the second light collector 710 along the direction +T and thenenters the second phase retarder 709. When reflected off the diffusiveoptical element 711, the blue light is converted into circularlypolarized light having a polarization rotation direction opposite to thepolarization rotation direction of the blue light before reflected. Theblue light having entered the second phase retarder 709 via the secondlight collector 710 is therefore converted into s-polarized blue lightby the second phase retarder 709. The blue light incident on the lightcombiner 706 from the second phase retarder 709 is then reflected offthe light combiner 706 and enters the third phase retarder 712. That is,the light that exits out of the light combiner 706 and enters the thirdphase retarder 712 is the white light WL, which is the mixture of theblue light and the fluorescence.

Configuration of Third Phase Retarder

The third phase retarder 712 converts the white light WL incident fromthe light combiner 706 into light that is the mixture of s-polarizedlight and p-polarized light. The white light WL having the thusconverted polarization state is outputted from the light sourceapparatus 7 in the direction +S along the light exiting optical axis ofthe light source apparatus 7 and enters the image generation apparatus8A.

Configuration of Image Generation Apparatus

The image generation apparatus 8A generates image light from the whitelight WL incident in the direction +S from the light source apparatus 7and outputs the generated image light in the direction +S. In detail,the image generation apparatus 8A modulates the light incident from thelight source apparatus 7 to generate image light according to an imagesignal inputted from the controller 3.

The image generation apparatus 8A includes an enclosure 81, ahomogenizer 82, a color separation apparatus 83, a relay apparatus 84,the light modulation apparatus 85, and a color combiner 86.

Configurations of Enclosure and Homogenizer

The enclosure 81 accommodates the homogenizer 82, the color separationapparatus 83, and the relay apparatus 84. In the image generationapparatus 8A, an illumination optical axis that is an optical axis usedat a design stage is set, and the enclosure 81 holds the homogenizer 82,the color separation apparatus 83, and the relay apparatus 84 along theillumination optical axis. The light modulation apparatus 85 and thecolor combiner 86 are further disposed in the illumination optical axis.

The homogenizer 82 homogenizes the illuminance of the white light WLincident from the light source apparatus 7 and also aligns thepolarization states of the white light WL with one another. The whitelight WL having illuminance homogenized by the homogenizer 82 travelsvia the color separation apparatus 83 and the relay apparatus 84 andilluminates a modulation region of the light modulation apparatus 85.Although not illustrated in detail, the homogenizer 82 includes a pairof lens arrays that homogenize the illuminance, a polarization converterthat aligns the polarization states with one another, and asuperimposing lens that superimposes a plurality of sub-light fluxesinto which the pair of lens arrays divide the white light WL with oneanother in the modulation region. The white light WL having passedthrough the homogenizer 82 is, for example, s-polarized linearlypolarized light.

Configuration of Color Separation Apparatus

The color separation apparatus 83 separates the white light WL incidentin the direction +S from the homogenizer 82 into blue light L1, greenlight L2, and red light L3. The color separation apparatus 83 includes afirst color separator 831, a first reflector 832, and a second colorseparator 833.

The first color separator 831 corresponds to a first reflective opticalelement and is disposed in a position shifted in the direction +S fromthe homogenizer 82. The first color separator 831 transmits in thedirection +S the blue light L1 contained in the white light WL incidentfrom the homogenizer 82 and reflects the green light L2 and the redlight L3 in the direction +T to separate the blue light L1 from thegreen light L2 and the red light L3. The blue light L1 separated by thefirst color separator 831 corresponds to first color light.

The first reflector 832 reflects in the direction +T the blue light L1having passed through the first color separator 831. The blue light L1reflected off the first reflector 832 enters a blue light modulator 85B.The optical axis of the blue light L1 between the first color separator831 and the first reflector 832 coincides with the extension of thelight exiting optical axis of the light source apparatus 7.

The second color separator 833 corresponds to a second reflectiveoptical element and is disposed in a position shifted in the direction+T from the first color separator 831. The second color separator 833reflects the green light L2 in the direction +S out of the green lightL2 and the red light L3 reflected off the first color separator 831 andtransmits the red light L3 in the direction +T to separate the greenlight L2 and the red light L3 from each other. The green light L2separated by the second color separator 833 corresponds to second colorlight, and the red light L3 separated by the second color separator 833corresponds to third color light.

The green light L2 separated by the second color separator 833 enters agreen light modulator 85G. The red light L3 separated by the secondcolor separator 833 enters the relay apparatus 84.

Configuration of Relay Apparatus

The relay apparatus 84 is provided in the optical path of the red lightL3, which is longer than the optical paths of the blue light L1 and thegreen light L2, and suppresses loss of the red light L3. The relayapparatus 84 includes a second reflector 841, a third reflector 842, alight-incident-side lens 843, a relay lens 844, and a light-exiting-sidelens 845.

The second reflector 841 reflects in the direction +S the red light L3having passed through the second color separator 833. The thirdreflector 842 reflects in the direction −T the red light L3 reflectedoff the second reflector 841. The light-incident-side lens 843 isdisposed between the second color separator 833 and the second reflector841. The relay lens 844 is disposed between the second reflector 841 andthe third reflector 842. The light-exiting-side lens 845 is disposedbetween the second reflector 841 and a red light modulator 85R.

In the present embodiment, the relay apparatus 84 is provided in theoptical path of the red light L3, but not necessarily. For example, theblue light L1 may be set as the color light having a longer optical paththan the other color light, and the relay apparatus 84 may be providedin the optical path of the blue light L1.

Configuration of Light Modulation Apparatus

The light modulation apparatus 85 modulates the light incident thereonin accordance with an image signal. The light modulation apparatus 85includes the blue light modulator 85B as a first light modulator, thegreen light modulator 85G as a second light modulator, and the red lightmodulator 85R as a third light modulator.

The blue light modulator 85B modulates the blue light L1 incident in thedirection +T from the first reflector 832. The blue light L1 modulatedby the blue light modulator 85B travels in the direction +T and entersthe color combiner 86.

The green light modulator 85G modulates the green light L2 incident inthe direction +S from the second color separator 833. The green light L2modulated by the green light modulator 85G travels in the direction +Sand enters the color combiner 86.

The red light modulator 85R modulates the red light L3 incident in thedirection −T via the light-exiting-side lens 845. The red light L3modulated by the red light modulator 85R travels in the direction −T andenters the color combiner 86.

In the present embodiment, the light modulators 85B, 85G, and 85R eachinclude a transmissive liquid crystal panel and a pair of polarizersthat sandwich the transmissive liquid crystal panel.

Configuration of Color Combiner

The color combiner 86 combines the blue light L1 modulated by the bluelight modulator 85B, the green light L2 modulated by the green lightmodulator 85G, and the red light L3 modulated by the red light modulator85R with one another to generate image light. Specifically, the colorcombiner 86 reflects in the direction +S the blue light L1 incident fromthe blue light modulator 85B, transmits in the direction +S the greenlight L2 incident from the green light modulator 85G, and reflects inthe direction +S the red light L3 incident from the red light modulator85R. The combined image light from the light combiner 86 exits in thedirection +S along the light exiting optical axis of the light combiner86, that is, the light exiting optical axis of the image generationapparatus 8A and enters the entrance optical path 92 of the projectionoptical apparatus 9. That is, the extension of the optical axis of thegreen light L2 reflected off the second color separator 833 coincideswith the light exiting optical axis of the light combiner 86, and thelight exiting optical axis of the light combiner 86 coincides with thelight incident optical axis of the projection optical apparatus 9.

In the present embodiment, the color combiner 86 is formed of a crossdichroic prism, but not necessarily. The color combiner 86 can beformed, for example, of a plurality of dichroic mirrors.

The image light outputted from the thus configured image generationapparatus 8A is projected by the projection optical apparatus 9 onto theprojection receiving surface as described above.

Position of Each Optical Axis in the Image Projection Apparatus

FIG. 8 describes the optical axes of the optical parts in the imageprojection apparatus 6. In FIG. 8, only some of the optical parts thatform the image projection apparatus 6 have reference characters forclarity of illustration.

A light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7 isparallel to an optical axis Lx2 of the entrance optical path 92, asshown in FIG. 8. On the other hand, the light exiting optical axis Lx1of the light source apparatus 7 is set so as to be shifted in thedirection −T from the optical axis Lx2 of the entrance optical path 92,so that the extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the lightsource apparatus 7 does not coincide with the optical axis Lx2 of theentrance optical path 92.

The extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light sourceapparatus 7 intersects with an extension containing an optical axis Lx3of the passage optical path 94 extending along the direction +X. In thepresent embodiment, the extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1of the light source apparatus 7 is located between the optical pathchanging member 95 and the deflection member 93 in the direction +X inthe projection optical apparatus 9. The extension of the light exitingoptical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7 therefore intersectswith the optical axis Lx3 of the passage optical path 94 extending alongthe direction +X. In the present specification, the extension containingthe optical axis Lx3 of the passage optical path 94 includes the opticalaxis Lx3 and the extension of the optical axis Lx3.

In the image generation apparatus 8A, the green light L2 reflected offthe second color separator 833 in the direction +S and modulated by thegreen light modulator 85G passes through the color combiner 86 in thedirection +S. An optical axis Lx4 of the green light L2 reflected offthe second color separator 833 therefore coincides with an optical axisLx5 of the image light, which is the combined light as the result of thecombination performed by the color combiner 86. That is, the opticalaxis Lx4 of the green light L2 reflected off the second color separator833 coincides with the optical axis Lx5 of the image light having exitedout of the color combiner 86. The optical axis Lx5 coincides with theoptical axis Lx2 of the entrance optical path 92.

The first color separator 831 transmits in the direction +S the bluelight L1 contained in the white light WL outputted in the direction +Sfrom the light source apparatus 7, and the blue light L1 having passedthrough the first color separator 831 is incident on the first reflector832. The extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the lightsource apparatus 7 therefore coincides with an optical axis Lx6 betweenthe first color separator 831 and the first reflector 832.

The light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7coincides with an optical axis Lx7 of the wavelength converter 7081.

The solid-state light emitters 7021 face the diffusive optical element711. An optical axis Lx8 of the entire solid-state light emitters 7021and an optical axis Lx9 of the diffusive optical element 711 areperpendicular to the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light sourceapparatus 7.

The optical axis Lx8 of the entire solid-state light emitters 7021, theoptical axis Lx7 of the wavelength converter 7081, and the optical axisLx9 of the diffusive optical element 711 intersect with one another atthe light combiner 706. Let PS1 be the position where the optical axesLx7, Lx8, and Lx9 intersect with one another at the light combiner 706.

The deflection member 93 of the projection optical apparatus 9 deflectsat an acute angle the direction of the light having traveled along theentrance optical path 92 to guide the light incident from the entranceoptical path 92 to the passage optical path 94. Let PS2 be the positionwhere the light having traveled along the entrance optical path 92 isdeflected by the deflection member 93.

When viewed in the direction +Y, a straight line LN passing through theposition PS1 and perpendicular to the passage optical path 94 is shiftedfrom the position PS2 in the direction in which the light travels alongthe passage optical path 94, that is, in the direction −X. The straightline LN is an imaginary straight line.

The aforementioned arrangement of the light source apparatus 7, theimage generation apparatus 8A, and the projection optical apparatus 9can suppress protrusion of the light source apparatus 7 in the direction−X beyond an imaginary line VL1, which is perpendicular to the direction−X and passes through an end of the projection optical apparatus 9 thatis the end shifted in the direction −X extending along the optical axisLx3 of the passage optical path 94, when viewed in the direction +Y. Forexample, the arrangement described above prevents the diffusive opticalelement 711 located in a position closest to the negative side of thedirection X, out of the solid-state light emitters 7021, the wavelengthconverter 7081, and the diffusive optical element 711, from beingdisposed in a position shifted in the direction −X from the imaginaryline VL1 when viewed in the direction +Y. The imaginary line VL1corresponds to a first imaginary line.

The arrangement can also suppress protrusion of the light sourceapparatus 7 in the direction +X beyond an imaginary line VL2, which isperpendicular to the direction +X and passes through an end of theprojection optical apparatus 9 that is the end shifted in the direction+X extending along the optical axis Lx3 of the passage optical path 94,when viewed in the direction +Y. For example, the arrangement describedabove prevents the solid-state light emitters 7021 located in a positionclosest to the positive side of the direction X, out of the solid-statelight emitters 7021, the wavelength converter 7081, and the diffusiveoptical element 711, from being disposed in a position shifted in thedirection +X from the imaginary line VL2 when viewed in the direction+Y. The imaginary line VL2 corresponds to a second imaginary line.

The dimension of the projector 1A in the direction +X can therefore bereduced as compared with a case where the light source apparatus 7protrudes in the direction +X or −X beyond the projection opticalapparatus 9.

Effects of First Embodiment

The projector 1A according to the present embodiment described above canprovide the effects below.

The projector 1A, which is the projection apparatus, includes the lightsource apparatus 7, the first color separator 831 as the firstreflective optical element, the second color separator 833 as the secondreflective optical element, and the projection optical apparatus 9.

The light source apparatus 7 outputs the white light WL via the exitport 7011. The first color separator 831 reflects at least part of thewhite light WL outputted by the light source apparatus 7. Specifically,the first color separator 831 reflects the green light L2 and the redlight L3 out of the white light WL outputted by the light sourceapparatus 7. The second color separator 833 is disposed in the opticalpath of the light reflected off the first color separator 831 andreflects and outputs the green light L2 incident from the first colorseparator 831.

The projection optical apparatus 9 is disposed in the optical axis Lx4of the light having exited out of the second color separator 833. Theprojection optical apparatus 9 has the entrance optical path 92, thedeflection member 93, and the passage optical path 94.

The light having exited out of the second color separator 833 enters theentrance optical path 92. The deflection member 93 deflects thetraveling direction of the light having traveled along the entranceoptical path 92. The light having exited out of the deflection member 93travels along the passage optical path 94.

The extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light sourceapparatus 7 does not coincide with the optical axis Lx2 of the entranceoptical path 92. Further, the extension of the light exiting opticalaxis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7 intersects with the extensioncontaining the optical axis Lx3 of the passage optical path 94. Indetail, the extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the lightsource apparatus 7 intersects with the optical axis Lx3 of the passageoptical path 94.

The aforementioned arrangement of the light source apparatus 7 cansuppress at least one of protrusion of the light source apparatus 7 andthe image generation apparatus 8A in the direction +X beyond theimaginary line VL1 and protrusion of the light source apparatus 7 andthe image generation apparatus 8A in the direction −X beyond theimaginary line VL2 described above. An increase in the dimension of theprojector 1A in the direction +X can therefore be suppressed, wherebythe size of the projector 1A can be reduced.

In the projector 1A, the deflection member 93 deflects at an acute anglethe direction of the light having traveled along the entrance opticalpath 92.

The configuration described above can suppress an increase in thedimension of the projector 1A in the direction +X as compared with acase where the deflection member 93 deflects the direction of the lighthaving traveled along the entrance optical path 92 in such a way thatthe traveling direction and the deflection direction form a right orobtuse angle, whereby the size of the projector 1A can be reduced.

In the projector 1A, the extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1of the light source apparatus 7 intersects with the optical axis Lx3 ofthe passage optical path 94.

The configuration described above can suppress at least one ofprotrusion of the light source apparatus 7 in the direction −X beyondthe imaginary line VL1 and protrusion of the light source apparatus 7 inthe direction +X beyond the imaginary line VL2. The optical parts of theimage generation apparatus 8A, including the first color separator 831and the second color separator 833, can thus be readily disposed betweenthe virtual line VL1 and the virtual line VL2. The size of the projector1A in the direction +X can therefore be reduced.

In the projector 1A, the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the lightsource apparatus 7 is parallel to the optical axis Lx2 of the entranceoptical path 92.

The configuration described above allows the optical parts providedbetween the light source apparatus 7 and the projection opticalapparatus 9, such as the first color separator 831 and the second colorseparator 833, to be readily disposed with respect to the light exitingoptical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7 and the optical axisLx2 of the entrance optical path 92.

Furthermore, the size of the projector 1A in the direction +X can bereduced as compared with a case where the extension of the light exitingoptical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7 inclines in thedirection away from the entrance optical path 92 with distance towardthe projection optical apparatus 9.

The projector 1A includes the first reflector 832, the blue lightmodulator 85B as the first light modulator, the green light modulator85G as the second light modulator, the second reflector 841, the thirdreflector 842, the red light modulator 85R as the third light modulator,and the color combiner 86.

The light source apparatus 7 outputs the white light WL.

The first color separator 831 as the first reflective optical elementtransmits the blue light L1 contained in the white light WL outputted bythe light source apparatus 7 and reflects the green light L2 and the redlight L3 contained in the white light WL. The second color separator 833as the second reflective optical element reflects the green light L2 andtransmits the red light L3 out of the green light L2 and the red lightL3 reflected off the first color separator 831. The blue light L1corresponds to the first color light, the green light L2 corresponds tothe second color light, and the red light L3 corresponds to the thirdcolor light.

The first reflector 832 reflects the blue light L1 having passed throughthe first color separator 831.

The blue light modulator 85B modulates the blue light L1 reflected offthe first reflector 832.

The green light modulator 85G modulates the green light L2 reflected offand separated by the second color separator 833 out of the lightreflected off the first color separator 831.

The second reflector 841 reflects the red light L3 having passed throughand having been separated by the second color separator 833 out of thelight reflected off the first color separator 831.

The third reflector 842 reflects the red light L3 reflected off thesecond reflector 841.

The red light modulator 85R modulates the red light L3 reflected off thethird reflector 842.

The color combiner 86 outputs combined light that is the combination ofthe light modulated by the blue light modulator 85B, the light modulatedby the green light modulator 85G, and the light modulated by the redlight modulator 85R.

The optical axis Lx4 of the green light L2 reflected off the secondcolor separator 833 coincides with the optical axis Lx5 of the combinedlight having exited out of the color combiner 86.

The configuration described above can suppress protrusion of the bluelight modulator 85B, the green light modulator 85G, the red lightmodulator 85R, and the color combiner 86 in the direction +X beyond theimaginary line VL2. The size of the projector 1A in the direction +X cantherefore be reduced.

In the projector 1A, the extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1of the light source apparatus 7 coincides with the optical axis Lx6between the first color separator 831 and the first reflector 832.

The configuration described above allows the first color separator 831and the first reflector 832 to be readily disposed on the extension ofthe light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7.

The configuration described above can further suppress protrusion ofoptical parts, such as the light source apparatus 7, in the direction −Xbeyond the imaginary line VL1 and protrusion of the optical parts, suchas the light source apparatus 7, in the direction +X beyond theimaginary line VL2. The size of the projector 1A in the direction +X cantherefore be reduced.

In the projector 1A, the light source apparatus 7 includes thesolid-state light emitters 7021, the wavelength converter 7081, thediffusive optical element 711, and the light combiner 706.

The wavelength converter 7081 outputs the fluorescence, which is theconverted light having wavelengths longer than the wavelength of thefirst portion of the blue light emitted by the solid-state lightemitters 7021.

The diffusive optical element 711 diffuses the second portion of theblue light emitted by the solid-state light emitters 7021.

The color combiner 86 combines the fluorescence outputted by thewavelength converter 7081 with the blue light diffused by the diffusiveoptical element 711.

The light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7coincides with the optical axis Lx7 of the wavelength converter 7081,which is one of the optical elements, the solid-state light emitters7021, the wavelength converter 7081, and the diffusive optical element711. Out of the solid light emitters 7021, the wavelength converter7081, and the diffusive optical element 711, the solid light emitters7021 and the diffuse optical element 711, which are two optical elementshaving optical axes that do not coincide with the light exiting opticalaxis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7, face each other. The opticalaxis Lx8 of the solid-state light emitters 7021 and the optical axis Lx9of the diffusive optical element 711 are perpendicular to the lightexiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7.

The configuration described above allows reduction in the dimensions ofthe light source apparatus 7 with the amount of light outputtedtherefrom increased as compared with a light source apparatus includinga light source lamp, such as an ultrahigh-pressure mercury lamp.

Furthermore, the aforementioned arrangement of the solid-state lightemitters 7021, the wavelength converter 7081, and the diffusive opticalelement 711 can suppress protrusion of the light source apparatus 7 inthe direction −X beyond the imaginary line VL1 and protrusion of thelight source apparatus 7 in the direction +X beyond the imaginary lineVL2. The size of the projector 1A in the direction +X can therefore bereduced.

The projector 1A includes the heat receiving member 7023, which isprovided on the opposite side of the solid-state light emitters 7021from the light emitting side thereof, that is, in a position shifted inthe direction +T and receives the heat of the solid-state light emitters7021.

The configuration described above allows an increase in the heatdissipation area via which the heat generated by the solid-state lightemitters 7021 is dissipated. The heat dissipation efficiency inaccordance with which the heat generated by the solid-state lightemitters 7021 is dissipated can therefore be increased.

The projector 1A further includes the heat dissipating member 7025,which is coupled to the heat receiving member 7023 in a heattransferable manner.

According to the configuration described above, the heat dissipationarea via which the heat generated by the solid-state light emitters 7021is dissipated can be further increased, whereby the heat dissipationefficiency in accordance with which the heat generated by the solidlight emitters 7021 is dissipated can be further increased.

The projector 1A further includes the heat pipes 7024, which transferthe heat transferred from the heat receiving member 7023 to the heatdissipating member 7025.

According to the configuration described above, the heat of the heatreceiving member 7023 can be efficiently transferred to the heatdissipating member 7025, whereby the heat dissipation efficiency inaccordance with which the heat generated by the solid-state lightemitters 7021 is dissipated can further be increased. Even when the heatreceiving member 7023 and the heat dissipating member 7025 are disposedso as to be apart from each other, the heat pipes 7024 can efficientlytransfer the heat from the heat receiving member 7023 to the heatdissipating member 7025. The flexibility of the layout of the heatdissipating member 7025 can therefore be increased.

In the projector 1A, the deflection member 93 deflects at an acute anglethe direction of the light having traveled along the entrance opticalpath 92. The straight line LN, which passes through the position PS1,where the optical axis Lx8 of the entire solid-state light emitters7021, the optical axis Lx7 of the wavelength converter 7081, and theoptical axis Lx9 of the diffusive optical element 711 intersect with oneanother, and which is perpendicular to the passage optical path 94, isshifted in the direction −X, which is the direction in which the lighttravels along the passage optical path 94, from the position PS2, wherethe deflection member 93 deflects the light having traveled along theentrance optical path 92.

The configuration described above allows the light source apparatus 7 tobe readily disposed between the imaginary line VL1 and the imaginaryline VL2. The configuration described above can therefore suppressprotrusion of the light source apparatus 7 in the direction −X beyondthe imaginary line VL1 and protrusion of the light source apparatus 7 inthe direction +X beyond the imaginary line VL2. Furthermore, the opticalparts that guide the light outputted from the light source apparatus 7to the projection optical apparatus 9 can be readily disposed betweenthe imaginary line VL1 and the imaginary line VL2. The size of theprojector 1A in the direction +X can therefore be reduced.

The projector 1A includes the fans 54 and 55, which are provided in thespace between the light source apparatus 7 and the projection opticalapparatus 9 and located on the opposite side of the extension of thelight exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7 from theoptical axis LX2 of the entrance optical path 92.

According to the configuration described above, the fans 54 and 55 aredisposed in positions shifted in the direction −X from the extension ofthe light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7. Theconfiguration described above allows the fans 54 and 55 to be disposedin a region that is likely to form a dead space in the projector 1A.Therefore, since the parts can be disposed in a packed manner in theprojector 1A, the dimensions of the projector 1A can be reduced, and thesize of the projector 1A can therefore be reduced.

Variation of First Embodiment

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the configuration of an imageprojection apparatus 6A, which is a variation of the image projectionapparatus 6.

In the image projection apparatus 6 of the projector 1A, the solid-statelight emitters 7021, which form the light source apparatus 7, emit thelight in the direction −T, and the diffusive optical element 711reflects the blue light in the direction +T. The light source apparatus7 may, however, be so disposed that the solid-state light emitters 7021emit the blue light in the direction +T and the diffusive opticalelement 711 reflects the blue light in the direction −T. That is, theprojector 1A may include the image projection apparatus 6A shown in FIG.9 in place of the image projection apparatus 6.

The image projection apparatus 6A includes the light source apparatus 7,the image generation apparatus 8A, and the projection optical apparatus9, as the image projection apparatus 6 does. The projection opticalapparatus 9 is disposed in the exterior enclosure 2A substantially atthe center thereof in the direction +Z, and the light source apparatus 7and the image generation apparatus 8A are disposed in positions shiftedin the direction −Z from the projection optical apparatus 9.

In the image projection apparatus 6A, the light source apparatus 7 isdisposed so as to pivot by 180° around the light exiting optical axisLx1, and the image generation apparatus 8A is disposed so as to pivot by180° around the optical axis Lx5.

Therefore, in the light source apparatus 7 in the image projectionapparatus 6A and the light source apparatus 7 in the image projectionapparatus 6, the wavelength converter 7081 outputs the fluorescence inthe same direction, and the white light WL exits via the exit port 7011in the same direction.

However, in the light source apparatus 7 in the image projectionapparatus 6A and the light source apparatus 7 in the image projectionapparatus 6, the solid-state light emitters 7021 output the blue lightin opposite directions, and the diffusive optical element 711 reflectsthe blue light in opposite directions. That is, in the light sourceapparatus 7 in the image projection apparatus 6A, the plurality ofsolid-state light emitters 7021 are disposed in a position shifted inthe direction −T, which is the direction toward the entrance opticalpath 92, from the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light sourceapparatus 7, and the diffusive optical element 711 is disposed in aposition shifted in the direction +T, which is the direction toward theopposite side from the entrance optical path 92, from the light exitingoptical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7. The plurality ofsolid-state light emitters 7021 emit the blue light in the direction +T,and the diffusive optical element 711 reflects the blue light in thedirection −T.

In the image generation apparatus 8A of the image projection apparatus6A, the homogenizer 82, the first color separator 831, and the firstreflector 832 are disposed in the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of thelight source apparatus 7. However, the first color separator 831reflects the green light L2 and the red light L3 in the direction −T,and the first reflector 832 reflects the blue light L1 in the direction−T. The reflected blue light L1 is modulated by the blue light modulator85B and enters the color combiner 86 along the direction −T.

Out of the green light L2 and the red light L3 reflected off the firstcolor separator 831, the green light L2 is reflected in the direction +Soff the second color separator 833 disposed in a position shifted in thedirection −T from the first color separator 831, and the red light L3passes through the second color separator 833 in the direction −T.

The green light L2 reflected off the second color separator 833 ismodulated by the green light modulator 85G and enters the color combiner86 along the direction +S.

The red light L3 having passed through the second color separator 833 isreflected in the direction +S off the second reflector 841 disposed in aposition shifted in the direction −T from the second color separator833, and the red light L3 reflected in the direction +S is reflected inthe direction +T off the third reflector 842. The red light L3 reflectedoff the third reflector 842 is modulated by the red light modulator 85Rand enters the color combiner 86 along the direction +T.

The light-incident-side lens 843 is provided between the second colorseparator 833 and the second reflector 841. The relay lens 844 isprovided between the second reflector 841 and the third reflector 842.The light-exiting-side lens 845 is disposed between the third reflector842 and the red light modulator 85R.

The blue light L1, the green light L2, and the red light L3 havingentered the color combiner 86 are combined with one another by the colorcombiner 86, and the color combiner 86 outputs the image light in thedirection +S along the optical axis Lx5 parallel to the direction +S.The image light having exited out of the color combiner 86 enters theentrance optical path 92 and is projected by the projection opticalapparatus 9. Position of each optical axis in the image projectionapparatus

FIG. 10 describes the optical axes of the optical parts in the imageprojection apparatus 6A. In FIG. 10, only some of the optical parts thatform the image projection apparatus 6A have reference characters forclarity of illustration.

The light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7 isparallel to the optical axis Lx2 of the entrance optical path 92 also inthe image projection apparatus 6A, as shown in FIG. 10. On the otherhand, the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7is provided in a position shifted in the direction +T from the opticalaxis Lx2 of the entrance optical path 92, so that the extension of thelight exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7 does notcoincide with the extension of the optical axis of the entrance opticalpath 92.

The extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light sourceapparatus 7 intersects with the extension containing the optical axisLx3 of the passage optical path 94. In detail, the extension of thelight exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7intersects with part of the extension of the optical axis Lx3 of thepassage optical path 94, the extension that extends in the direction +X,which is the direction opposite to the direction in which the imagelight travels along the passage optical path 94.

Also in the image projection apparatus 6A, the optical axis Lx4 of thegreen light L2 reflected off the second color separator 833 coincideswith the optical axis Lx5 of the image light, which is the combinedlight as the result of the combination performed by the color combiner86. The optical axis Lx5 of the image light having exited out of thecolor combiner 86 coincides with the optical axis Lx2 of the entranceoptical path 92.

The extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light sourceapparatus 7 coincides with the optical axis Lx6 between the first colorseparator 831 and the first reflector 832.

The light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7coincides with the optical axis Lx7 of the wavelength converter 7081.

The solid-state light emitters 7021 and the diffusive optical element711, which have optical axes that do not coincide with the light exitingoptical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus, face each other. Theoptical axis Lx8 of the entire solid-state light emitters 7021 and theoptical axis Lx9 of the diffusive optical element 711 coincide with eachother and are perpendicular to the extension of the light exitingoptical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7.

The optical axis Lx8 of the entire solid-state light emitters 7021, theoptical axis Lx7 of the wavelength converter 7081, and the optical axisLx9 of the diffusive optical element 711 intersect with one another atthe light combiner 706. The deflection member 93 deflects at an acuteangle the direction of the image light having traveled along theentrance optical path 92 to guide the image light incident from theentrance optical path 92 to the passage optical path 94.

The straight line LN, which passes through the position PS1 and isperpendicular to the passage optical path 94, is shifted in thedirection in which the image light travels along the passage opticalpath 94, that is, in the direction −X from the position PS2 when viewedin the direction +Y.

The projector 1A including the image projection apparatus 6A describedabove can provide the effects below as well as the same effects providedby the projector 1A including the image projection apparatus 6.

In the image projection apparatus 6A, the extension of the light exitingoptical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7 intersects with part ofthe extension containing the optical axis Lx3 of the passage opticalpath 94, the extension extending in the direction opposite to thedirection in which the light travels along the passage optical path 94,that is, in the direction +X.

The configuration described above can suppress protrusion of the lightsource apparatus 7 and the image generation apparatus 8A in thedirection −X beyond the imaginary line VL1. The size of the projector 1Ain the direction +X can therefore be reduced.

When a light source apparatus 7 that outputs high-luminance light isprovided, the amount of heat from the light source apparatus 7increases. When such light source apparatus 7 is present in the vicinityof the projection optical apparatus 9, the lens enclosure 91 of theprojection optical apparatus 9 can be thermally deformed depending onthe material of the lens enclosure 91, and the thermal deformation maycause disadvantageous optical effects. In contrast, the extension of thelight exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7intersects with part of the extension containing the optical axis Lx3 ofthe passage optical path 94, the extension extending in the directionopposite to the direction in which the light travels along the passageoptical path 94, causing no such effects.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the present disclosure will next be described.

The projector according to the present embodiment has the sameconfiguration as that of the projector 1A according to the firstembodiment but differs therefrom in terms of the configuration of theimage generation apparatus. In the following description, portions thatare the same or substantially the same as the portions having beenalready described have the same reference characters and will not bedescribed.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the configuration of an imageprojection apparatus 6B provided in a projector 1B according to thepresent embodiment.

The projector 1B according to the present embodiment corresponds to theprojection apparatus. The projector 1B has the same configuration andfunction as those of the projector 1A according to the first embodimentexcept that the image projection apparatus 6 is replaced with the imageprojection apparatus 6B shown in FIG. 11.

The image projection apparatus 6B has the same configuration andfunction as those of the image projection apparatus 6A except that theimage generation apparatus 8A is replaced with an image generationapparatus 8B, as shown in FIG. 11. That is, the image projectionapparatus 6B includes the light source apparatus 7, the image generationapparatus 8B, and the projection optical apparatus 9. The arrangement ofthe light source apparatus 7 in the image projection apparatus 6B shownin FIG. 11 is the same as the arrangement of the light source apparatus7 in the image projection apparatus 6 shown in FIG. 6 and may instead bethe same as the arrangement of the light source apparatus 7 in the imageprojection apparatus 6A shown in FIG. 9.

The image generation apparatus 8B includes the enclosure 81 and thefollowing components accommodated in the enclosure 81: the homogenizer82; a first reflective optical element 87; a second reflective opticalelement 88; and an image generator 89. In addition to the above, theimage generation apparatus 8B includes a retardation film, a polarizer,and a lens as required.

The first reflective optical element 87 is a reflection mirror and isdisposed on the extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of thelight source apparatus 7. The first reflective optical element 87receives the white light WL along the direction +S from the light sourceapparatus 7 via the homogenizer 82. The first reflective optical element87 reflects in the direction +T the white light WL incident thereon.

The second reflective optical element 88 is disposed in a positionshifted in the direction +T from the first reflective optical element87. The second reflective optical element 88 transmits the white lightWL incident from the first reflective optical element 87. The secondreflective optical element 88 reflects in the direction +S image lightmodulated by the image generator 89 and incident in the direction −T onthe second reflective optical element 88. The reflected image lightenters the entrance optical path 92 of the projection optical apparatus9, which is disposed in a position shifted in the direction +Z from thesecond reflective optical element 88.

The image generator 89 is disposed in a position shifted in thedirection +T from the second reflective optical element 88. The imagegenerator 89 modulates the white light WL incident from the secondreflective optical element 88 to generate image light and outputs theimage light in the direction −T. The image generator 89 may be areflective liquid crystal display device, such as an LCOS (liquidcrystal on silicon) device or a device using micromirrors, such as a DMD(digital micromirror device).

Position of Each Optical Axis in the Image Projection Apparatus

In the image projection apparatus 6B, the light exiting optical axis Lx1of the light source apparatus 7 is parallel to the optical axis Lx2 ofthe entrance optical path 92, but the extension of the light exitingoptical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7 does not coincide withthe optical axis Lx2 of the entrance optical path 92.

The extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light sourceapparatus 7 intersects with the extension containing the optical axisLx3 of the passage optical path 94. In the image projection apparatus6B, the extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1 intersects withthe optical axis Lx3 of the passage optical path 94.

The light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7coincides with the optical axis Lx7 of the wavelength converter 7081.

The solid-state light emitters 7021 and the diffusive optical element711, which have optical axes that do not coincide with the light exitingoptical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7, face each other. Theoptical axis Lx8 of the entire solid-state light emitters 7021 and theoptical axis Lx9 of the diffusive optical element 711 coincide with eachother and are perpendicular to the extension of the light exitingoptical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7.

The optical axis Lx8 of the entire solid-state light emitters 7021, theoptical axis Lx7 of the wavelength converter 7081, and the optical axisLx9 of the diffusive optical element 711 intersect with one another atthe light combiner 706. The deflection member 93 deflects at an acuteangle the direction of the image light having traveled along theentrance optical path 92 to guide the image light incident from theentrance optical path 92 to the passage optical path 94. The straightline LN, which passes through the position PS1 and is perpendicular tothe passage optical path 94, is located in a position shifted in thedirection in which the image light travels along the passage opticalpath 94, that is, in the direction −X from the position PS2 when viewedin the direction +Y.

Effects of Second Embodiment

The projector 1B according to the present embodiment described above canprovide the effects below as well as the same effects provided by theprojector 1A according to the first embodiment.

The projector 1B, which is the projection apparatus, includes the imagegenerator 89. The image generator 89 generates image light from thelight having passed through the second reflective optical element 88 andoutputs the image light in the direction −T, which is the directionopposite to the direction in which the white light WL is incident fromthe second reflective optical element 88. The second reflective opticalelement 88 transmits the white light WL incident from the firstreflective optical element 87 to cause the white light WL to enter theimage generator 89 and reflects the image light incident from the imagegenerator 89 to cause the image light to exit toward the projectionoptical apparatus 9.

According to the configuration described above, the optical axis of theimage light from the second reflective optical element 88, which causesthe image light incident from the image generator 89 to exit to theprojection optical apparatus 9, coincides with the optical axis Lx2 ofthe entrance optical path 92. The image generator 89 can thus be morereadily disposed between the imaginary line VL1 and the imaginary lineVL2. An increase in the dimension of the projector 1B in the direction+X can be suppressed, and the size of the projector 1B can therefore bereduced as compared with a case where the image generator 89 is disposedin a position shifted in the direction +X from the imaginary line VL2.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment of the present disclosure will next be described.

The projector according to the present embodiment has the sameconfiguration as that of the projector 1A according to the firstembodiment but differs therefrom in terms of the position of theintroduction port with which the exterior enclosure is provided and theconfiguration of the cooler. In the following description, portions thatare the same or substantially the same as the portions having beenalready described have the same reference characters and will not bedescribed.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of a projector1C according to the present embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 12 shows theconfiguration of the interior of an exterior enclosure 2C of theprojector 1C viewed in the direction +Y. In FIG. 12, the heat pipes 7024are not shown.

The projector 1C according to the present embodiment corresponds to theprojection apparatus. The projector 1C has the same configuration andfunction as those of the projector 1A according to the first embodimentexcept that the exterior enclosure 2A and the cooler 5A are replacedwith the exterior enclosure 2C and a cooler 5C, as shown in FIG. 12.

The exterior enclosure 2C has the same configuration and function asthose of the exterior enclosure 2A according to the first embodimentexcept that the front surface 23 is replaced with a front surface 23C.

The front surface 23C has an introduction port 231, which is located ina position shifted in the direction −Z from a central portion of thefront surface 23C in the direction +Z. The introduction port 231introduces gases outside the exterior enclosure 2C as the cooling gasinto the exterior enclosure 2C.

In the present embodiment, the opening 251 provided at the left sidesurface 25 and the opening 261 provided at the right side surface 26each function as the discharge port via which the cooling gas in theexterior enclosure 2C is discharged.

The cooler 5C cools the cooling targets provided in the exteriorenclosure 2C, as the cooler 5A according to the first embodiment does.The cooler 5C has the same configuration and function as those of thecooler 5A except that the cooler 5C further includes a fan 57. That is,the cooler 5C includes the filter 51, the duct 52, and the fans 53 to57.

The filter 51 is fitted to the introduction port 231 in an attachableand detachable manner. The filter 51 is provided along with theintroduction port 231 in the space shifted in the direction −Z from theprojection optical apparatus 9.

The duct 52 causes the space shifted in the direction −Z from theprojection optical apparatus 9 to communicate with the space shifted inthe direction +Z from the projection optical apparatus 9. That is, oneend of the duct 52 opens into the space shifted in the direction −Z fromthe projection optical apparatus 9, and the other end of the duct 52opens into the space shifted in the direction +Z from the projectionoptical apparatus 9. The duct 52 guides part of the cooling gas havingpassed through the filter 51 to the fan 53, which is located in aposition shifted in the direction +Z from projection optical apparatus9.

The fan 53 sends the cooling gas guided through the duct 52 to thecontroller 3 and the power supply 4 to cool the controller 3 and thepower supply 4.

The fans 54 to 56 are disposed in positions shifted in the direction −Zfrom the projection optical apparatus 9.

The fan 54 is disposed in a position sandwiched between the light sourceapparatus 7 and the projection optical apparatus 9 in the direction +Zand shifted in the direction −X from the image generation apparatus 8A.That is, the fan 54 is provided in a position sandwiched between thelight source apparatus 7 and the projection optical apparatus 9 in thedirection +Z and located on the opposite side of the light exitingoptical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7, which is not shown inFIG. 13, from the optical axis Lx2 of the entrance optical path 92. Thefan 54 sends part of the cooling gas having passed through the filter 51to the light modulation apparatus 85 to cool the light modulationapparatus 85.

The fan 55 is disposed in a position shifted the direction −Y from theimage generation apparatus 8A. The fan 55 sends part of the cooling gashaving passed through the filter 51 to the heat dissipating member 7025,which is disposed in a position shifted in the direction −Y from thelight source enclosure 701, to cool the heat dissipating member 7025.

The fan 56 is disposed in the exterior enclosure 2C and located at thecorner shifted in the directions+X and −Z. The fan 56 discharges thecooling gas having cooled the cooling targets disposed in positionsshifted in the direction −Z from the projection optical apparatus 9 outof the exterior enclosure 2C via the opening 251.

The fan 57 is disposed in the exterior enclosure 2C and located at thecorner shifted in the directions+X and +Z. The fan 57 discharges thecooling gas having cooled the cooling targets disposed in positionsshifted in the direction +Z from the projection optical apparatus 9 outof the exterior enclosure 2C via the opening 261.

Effects of Third Embodiment

The projector 1C according to the present embodiment described above canprovide the same effects as those provided by the projector 1A accordingto the first embodiment.

The projector 1C may include the image projection apparatus 6A or 6B inplace of the image projection apparatus 6. The image generationapparatus of the image projection apparatus provided in the projector 1Cis not limited to the image generation apparatus 8A and may be the imagegeneration apparatus 8B. The position of the duct in the projector 1C isnot limited to the position described above, and the number of fans andthe positions thereof are not limited to the those described above.

Fourth Embodiment

A fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will next be described.

The projector according to the present embodiment has the sameconfiguration as that of the projector 1A according to the firstembodiment and including the image projection apparatus 6A but differsfrom the projector 1A in that an introduction port via which the coolinggas is introduced into the exterior enclosure is provided at the bottomsurface of the exterior enclosure. In the following description,portions that are the same or substantially the same as the portionshaving been already described have the same reference characters andwill not be described.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the exterior appearance of aprojector 1D according to the present embodiment. In detail, FIG. 13 isa perspective view showing the projector 1D viewed from the side facinga bottom surface 22D. FIG. 14 shows the internal configuration of theprojector 1D viewed in the direction +Y, and FIG. 15 shows the internalconfiguration of the projector 1D viewed in the direction −Y.

The projector 1D according to the present embodiment corresponds to theprojection apparatus. The projector 1D has the same configuration andfunction as those of the projector 1A including the image projectionapparatus 6A except that the exterior enclosure 2A and the cooler 5A arereplaced with an exterior enclosure 2D shown in FIG. 13 and a cooler 5Dshown in FIGS. 14 and 15.

The exterior enclosure 2D has the same configuration and function asthose of the exterior enclosure 2A except that the bottom surface 22 isreplaced with the bottom surface 22D, as shown in FIG. 13.

The bottom surface 22D is provided with the plurality of legs 221 andhas an introduction port 222 in a position shifted in the directions −Xand −Z. The introduction port 222 introduces gases outside the exteriorenclosure 2D as the cooling gas into the exterior enclosure 2D.

In the present embodiment, the opening 251 provided at the left sidesurface 25 and the opening 261 provided at the right side surface 26each function as the discharge port via which the cooling gas in theexterior enclosure 2D is discharged.

The cooler 5D is provided in the exterior enclosure 2D and cools thecooling targets in the projector 1D, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Thecooler 5D has the same configuration and function as those of the cooler5C except that the cooler 5D further includes a duct 58. That is, thecooler 5D includes the filter 51, the duct 52, the fans 53 to 57, andthe duct 58.

The filter 51 is provided at the introduction port 222, which opens intothe space shifted in the direction −Z from the projection opticalapparatus 9, in an attachable and detachable manner.

The duct 52 guides part of the cooling gas having passed through thefilter 51 to the fan 53, which is located in a position shifted in thedirection +Z from projection optical apparatus 9.

The duct 58 is coupled to the fan 54 and guides part of the cooling gashaving passed through the filter 51 to the fan 54.

The fans 53 to 57 function as the fans 53 to 57 in the cooler 5C do.

Effects of Fourth Embodiment

The projector 1D according to the present embodiment described above canprovide the same effects as those provided by the projector 1A accordingto the first embodiment.

In the projector 1D, in which the introduction port 222 opens into thespace shifted in the direction −Z from the projection optical apparatus9 in the exterior enclosure 2D, the image projection apparatus 6 isemployed to provide the fan 56 in a position where the fan 56 does notoverlap with the introduction port 222, but not necessarily. Dependingon the position of the introduction port 222 at the bottom surface 22D,the image projection apparatus 6A may be employed in place of the imageprojection apparatus 6. The image generation apparatus of the imageprojection apparatus provided in the projector 1D is not limited to theimage generation apparatus 8A and may be the image generation apparatus8B. In addition to the above, the number of ducts and the positionsthereof in the projector 1D are not limited to those described above,and the number of fans and the positions thereof in the projector 1D arenot limited to the those described above.

Variations of Embodiments

The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments describedabove, and variations, improvements, and other modifications to theextent that the advantage of the present disclosure is achieved fallwithin the scope of the present disclosure.

In each of the embodiments described above, the projection opticalapparatus 9 includes the optical path changing member 95, which reflectsin the directions+X and +Y the image light having traveled in thedirection −X along the passage optical path 94 to reverse the travelingdirection of the image light, but not necessarily. The optical pathchanging member 95 may be omitted. That is, the projection opticalapparatus 9 may project in the direction −X the image light havingtraveled along the passage optical path 94.

In each of the embodiments described above, the deflection member 93deflects at an acute angle the direction of the image light havingtraveled along the entrance optical path 92. That is, the optical axisLx2 of the entrance optical path 92 and the optical axis Lx3 of thepassage optical path 94, along which the image light deflected by thedeflection member 93 travels, forms an acute angle of intersection, butnot necessarily. The angle of intersection of the optical axis Lx2 andthe optical axis Lx3 may be a right or obtuse angle. That is, thedeflection member 93 may deflect the direction of the image light havingtraveled along the entrance optical path 92 at a right or obtuse angle.The angle of intersection of the optical axis Lx2 and the optical axisLx3 is not limited to about 77.5° when the angle of intersection is anacute angle.

In each of the embodiments described above, the extension of the lightexiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7 intersects withthe extension containing the optical axis Lx3 of the passage opticalpath 94, but not necessarily. The light exiting optical axis Lx1 of thelight source apparatus 7 may not intersect with the optical axis Lx3, asin the image projection apparatus 6A. Furthermore, the extension of thelight exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7 mayintersect with part of the extension of the optical axis Lx3, theextension extending from the optical axis Lx3 in the direction −X.

The light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light source apparatus 7 isparallel to the optical axis Lx2 of the entrance optical path 92 but mayinstead not be parallel to the optical axis Lx2 of the entrance opticalpath 92.

In each of the embodiments described above, the light source apparatus 7includes the solid-state light emitters 7021, the wavelength converter7081, and the diffusive optical element 711, but not necessarily. Thelight source apparatus 7 may be configured to include a light sourcelamp, such as an ultrahigh-pressure mercury lamp, or include asolid-state light emitter that emits the blue light L1, a solid-statelight emitter that emits the green light L2, and a solid-state lightemitter that emits the red light L3. The layout of the optical partsthat form the light source apparatus 7 is not limited to the layoutdescribed above and can be changed as appropriate.

In each of the embodiments described above, the wavelength converter7081 is rotated by the rotator 7082, but not necessarily. The wavelengthconverter 7081 may not to be rotated. That is, the rotator 7082 may beomitted.

In each of the embodiments described above, the wavelength converter7081 is disposed on the extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1of the light source apparatus 7. The diffusive optical element 711 isdisposed so as to face the solid-state light emitters 7021 so that theoptical axis Lx9 of the diffusive optical element 711 coincides with theoptical axis Lx8 of the entire solid-state light emitters 7021, and theoptical axis Lx8 of the entire solid-state light emitters 7021 and theoptical axis Lx9 of the diffusive optical element 711 are perpendicularto the extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1, which coincideswith the optical axis Lx7 of the wavelength converter 7081. However, theconfiguration described above is not necessarily employed, and thewavelength converter 7081 and the diffusive optical element 711 may beswapped. That is, the diffusive optical element 711 may be disposed onthe extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1 of the light sourceapparatus 7, and the wavelength converter 7081 may be disposed so as toface the solid state light emitters 7021 so that the optical axis Lx7 ofthe wavelength converter 7081 coincides with the optical axis Lx8 of theentire solid-state light emitters 7021. In this case, the optical axisLx8 of the entire solid state light emitters 7021 and the optical axisLx7 of the wavelength converter 7081 are perpendicular to the opticalaxis Lx9 of the diffusive optical element 711.

In each of the above embodiments described above, the light source 702includes the heat receiving member 7023, which is provided on theopposite side of the solid-state light emitters 7021 from the lightemitting side thereof and receives the heat of the solid-state lightemitters 7021, but not necessarily. The heat receiving member 7023 maybe omitted. In this case, the heat pipes 7024 may be coupled to thesupport member 7020.

In each of the embodiments described above, the light source 702includes the heat dissipating member 7025, which is coupled to the heatreceiving member 7023 in a heat transferable manner, but notnecessarily. The heat dissipating member 7025 may be omitted. The heatdissipating member 7025 may not be provided in the vicinity of thesolid-state light emitters 7021, and the location of the heatdissipating member 7025 can be changed as appropriate.

In each of the embodiments described above, the light source 702includes the heat pipes 7024, which couple the heat receiving member7023 to the heat dissipating member 7025 in a heat transferable manner.The heat pipes 7024 may, however, be omitted. In this case, the heatdissipating member 7025 may be directly coupled to the heat receivingmember 7023.

In each of the embodiments described above, the coolers 5A, 5C, and 5Deach include the fans 54 and 55 provided in the space between the lightsource apparatus 7 and the projection optical apparatus 9 and located onthe opposite side of the extension of the light exiting optical axis Lx1of the light source apparatus 7 from the optical axis Lx2 of theentrance optical path 92, but not necessarily. The fans provided in thespace described above may be omitted, or the number of fans provided inthe space described above and the positions thereof are not limited tothose described above.

In each of the above embodiments described above, the projection opticalapparatus 9 is disposed at the center in the direction +Z in theexterior enclosure 2A, 2C, or 2D, the light source apparatus 7 and theimage generation apparatus 8A or 8B are disposed in positions shifted inthe direction −Z from the projection optical apparatus 9, and thecontroller 3 and the power supply 4 are disposed in positions shifted inthe direction +Z from the projection optical apparatus 9, but notnecessarily. The controller 3 and the power supply 4 may be disposed onthe same side of the projection optical apparatus 9 as the side wherethe light source apparatus 7 and the image generation apparatus 8A or 8Bare disposed.

In the first, third, and fourth embodiments described above, the lightmodulation apparatus 85 includes the three light modulators 85B, 85G,and 85R, but not necessarily. The number of light modulators provided inthe light modulation apparatus is not limited to three and can bechanged as appropriate.

The light modulators 85B, 85G, and 85R are each a transmissive liquidcrystal panel having a light incident surface and a light exitingsurface different from each other, but not necessarily. The lightmodulators may each be a reflective liquid crystal panel having asurface that serves both as the light incident surface and the lightexiting surface. Further, a light modulator using any component otherthan a liquid-crystal-based component and capable of modulating anincident light flux to form an image according to image information,such as a device using micromirrors, for example, a DMD, may beemployed.

In the second embodiment described above, the second reflective opticalelement 88 transmits in the direction +T the white light WL incidentfrom the first reflective optical element 87 and reflects in thedirection +S the image light incident from the image generator 89, butnot necessarily. The second reflective optical element 88 may instead beconfigured to reflect in the direction −S the white light WL incident inthe direction +T from the first reflective optical element 87 andtransmit in the direction +S the image light incident from the imagegenerator 89. In this case, the image generator 89 may be disposed in aposition shifted in the direction −S from the second reflective opticalelement 88. Instead, the second reflective optical element 88 may beconfigured to reflect in the direction −Y or +Y the white light WLincident in the direction +T from the first reflective optical element87 and reflect in the direction +S the image light incident from theimage generator 89. In this case, the image generator 89 may be disposedin a position shifted in the direction −Y or +Y from the secondreflective optical element 88.

In the embodiments described above, the projectors 1A, 1B, and 1C, whicheach project image light to display an image, are illustrated as theprojection apparatus by way of example, but not necessarily. Theprojection apparatus according to the present disclosure may be anyapparatus that projects light and is not necessarily limited to anapparatus that projects image light.

Overview of Present Disclosure

The present disclosure will be summarized below as additional remarks.

A projection apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosureincludes a light source apparatus that outputs light via an exit port, afirst reflective optical element that reflects at least part of thelight outputted by the light source apparatus, a second reflectiveoptical element disposed in the optical path of the light reflected offthe first reflective optical element, and a projection optical apparatusdisposed in the optical axis of the light having exited out of thesecond reflective optical element. The projection optical apparatus hasan entrance optical path that the light having exited out of the secondreflective optical element enters, a deflection member that deflects thedirection of the light having traveled along the entrance optical path,and a passage optical path along which the light having exited out ofthe deflection member travels. The extension of the light exitingoptical axis of the light source apparatus does not coincide with theextension of the optical axis of the entrance optical path andintersects with the extension containing the optical axis of the passageoptical path.

In the plan view of the projection apparatus viewed in the directionperpendicular to each of the direction in which the image light travelsalong the optical axis of the entrance optical path and the direction inwhich the image light travels along the optical axis of the passageoptical path in the projection optical apparatus, the direction in whichthe image light travels along the optical axis of the passage opticalpath is a first direction, and the direction perpendicular to the firstdirection is a second direction.

The aforementioned arrangement of the light source apparatus cansuppress at least one of protrusion of the light source apparatus, thefirst reflective optical element, and the second reflective opticalelement in the first direction beyond a first imaginary line that isparallel to the second direction and passes through an end of theprojection optical apparatus that is the end shifted in the firstdirection and protrusion of the light source apparatus, the firstreflective optical element, and the second reflective optical element inthe direction opposite to the first direction beyond a second imaginaryline that is parallel to the second direction and passes through an endof the projection optical apparatus that is the end shifted in thedirection opposite to the first direction. An increase in the dimensionof the projection apparatus in the first direction can therefore besuppressed, whereby the size of the projection apparatus can be reduced.

In the aspect described above, the deflection member may deflect at anacute angle the direction of the light having traveled along theentrance optical path.

The configuration described above can suppress an increase in thedimension of the projection apparatus in the first direction as comparedwith a case where the deflection member deflects the direction of thelight having traveled along the entrance optical path in such a way thatthe traveling direction and the deflection direction form a right orobtuse angle, whereby the size of the projection apparatus can bereduced.

In the aspect described above, the extension of the light exitingoptical axis of the light source apparatus may intersect with theoptical axis of the passage optical path.

The configuration described above can suppress at least one ofprotrusion of the light source apparatus in the first direction beyondthe first imaginary line and protrusion of the light source apparatus inthe direction opposite to the first direction beyond the secondimaginary line. The first and second reflective optical elements canthus be readily disposed between the first and second imaginary lines.The size of the projection apparatus in the first direction cantherefore be reduced.

In the aspect described above, the extension of the light exitingoptical axis of the light source apparatus may intersect with part ofthe extension containing the optical axis of the passage optical path,the extension extending in the direction opposite to the direction inwhich the light travels along the passage optical path.

The configuration described above can suppress protrusion of the lightsource apparatus, the first reflective optical element, and the secondreflective optical element in the first direction beyond the firstimaginary line. The size of the projection apparatus in the firstdirection can therefore be reduced.

In the aspect described above, the light exiting optical axis of thelight source apparatus may be parallel to the optical axis of theentrance optical path.

The configuration described above allows optical parts provided betweenthe light source apparatus and the projection optical apparatus, forexample, the first and second reflective optical elements, to be readilydisposed with respect to the light exiting optical axis of the lightsource apparatus and the optical axis of the entrance optical path.

Furthermore, the size of the projection apparatus in the first directioncan be reduced as compared with a case where the extension of the lightexiting optical axis of the light source apparatus inclines in thedirection away from the entrance optical path with distance toward theprojection optical apparatus.

In the aspect described above, the projection apparatus may include afirst reflector that reflects first color light having passed throughthe first reflective optical element, a first light modulator thatmodulates the first color light reflected off the first reflector, asecond light modulator that modulates second color light separated bythe second reflective optical element out of the light reflected off thefirst reflective optical element, a second reflector that reflects thirdcolor light separated by the second optical reflective element out ofthe light reflected off the first optical reflective element, a thirdreflector that reflects the third color light reflected off the secondreflector, a third light modulator that modulates the third color lightreflected off the third reflector, and a color combiner that outputscombined light that is the combination of the light modulated by thefirst light modulator, the light modulated by the second lightmodulator, and the light modulated by the third light modulator. Thelight source apparatus may output white light. The first reflectiveoptical element may be a first color separator that transmits the firstcolor light contained in the white light outputted by the light sourceapparatus and reflects the second color light and the third color lightcontained in the white light. The second reflective optical element maybe a second color separator that reflects the second color light andtransmits the third color light out of the second color light and thethird color light reflected off the first color separator. The opticalaxis of the second color light reflected off the second reflectiveoptical element may coincide with the optical axis of the combined lighthaving exited out of the color combiner.

The configuration described above can suppress protrusion of the firstlight modulator, the second light modulator, the third light modulator,and the color combiner in the direction opposite to the first directionbeyond the second imaginary line. The size of the projection apparatusin the first direction can therefore be reduced.

In the aspect described above, the extension of the light exitingoptical axis of the light source apparatus may coincide with the opticalaxis between the first reflective optical element and the firstreflector.

The configuration described above allows the first reflective opticalelement and the first reflector to be readily disposed on the extensionof the light exiting optical axis of the light source apparatus.

The configuration described above further allows suppression ofprotrusion of optical parts, such as the light source apparatus, in thefirst direction beyond the first imaginary line and protrusion of theoptical parts, such as the light source apparatus, in the directionopposite to the first direction beyond the second imaginary line. Thesize of the projection apparatus in the first direction can therefore bereduced.

In the aspect described above, the projection apparatus may include animage generator that generates the image light from the light havingpassed through the second reflective optical element and outputs theimage light in the direction opposite to the direction in which thelight is incident from the second reflective optical element, and thesecond reflective optical element may transmit the light incident fromthe first reflective optical element to cause the light to enter theimage generator and reflect the image light incident from the imagegenerator to cause the image light to exit toward the projection opticalapparatus.

According to the configuration described above, the optical axis of theimage light from the second reflective optical element, which causes theimage light incident from the image generator to exit toward theprojection optical apparatus, coincides with the light incident opticalaxis of the projection optical apparatus. The image generator can thusbe readily disposed between the first imaginary line and the secondimaginary line. An increase in the dimension of the projection apparatusin the first direction can therefore be suppressed as compared with acase where the image generator is disposed in a position shifted in thedirection opposite to the first direction from the second imaginaryline, whereby the size of the projection apparatus can be reduced.

In the aspect described above, the light source apparatus may include asolid-state light emitter, a wavelength converter that outputs convertedlight having a wavelength longer than the wavelength of a first portionof the light emitted by the solid-state light emitter, a diffusiveoptical element that diffuses a second portion of the light emitted bythe solid-state light emitter, and a light combiner that combines theconverted light outputted by the wavelength converter with the secondportion of the light outputted by the diffusive optical element. Thelight exiting optical axis of the light source apparatus may coincidewith the optical axis of one of the solid-state light emitter, thewavelength converter, and the diffusive optical element. Two of thesolid-state light emitter, the wavelength converter, and the diffusiveoptical element that have optical axes that do not coincide with thelight exiting optical axis of the light source apparatus may face eachother. The optical axes of the two optical elements may be perpendicularto the light exiting optical axis of the light source apparatus.

According to the configuration described above, the light sourceapparatus includes the solid-state light emitter, the wavelengthconverter, and the diffusive optical element. The configurationdescribed above allows reduction in the dimensions of the light sourceapparatus with the amount of light outputted therefrom increased ascompared with a light source apparatus including a light source lamp,such as an ultrahigh-pressure mercury lamp.

Furthermore, the aforementioned arrangement of the solid-state lightemitter, the wavelength converter, and the diffusive optical element cansuppress protrusion of the light source apparatus in the first directionbeyond the first imaginary line and protrusion of the light sourceapparatus in the direction opposite to the first direction beyond thesecond imaginary line. The size of the projection apparatus in the firstdirection can therefore be reduced.

In the aspect described above, the light source apparatus may include aheat receiving member that is provided on the opposite side of thesolid-state light emitter from the light emitting side thereof andreceives heat of the solid-state light emitter.

The configuration described above allows an increase in the heatdissipation area via which the heat generated by the solid-state lightemitter is dissipated. The heat dissipation efficiency in accordancewith which the heat generated by the solid-state light emitter isdissipated can therefore be increased.

In the aspect described above, the light source apparatus may furtherinclude a heat dissipating member coupled to the heat receiving memberin a heat transferable manner.

The configuration described above allows a further increase in the heatdissipation area via which the heat generated by the solid-state lightemitter is dissipated. The heat dissipation efficiency in accordancewith which the heat generated by the solid-state light emitter isdissipated can therefore be further increased.

In the aspect described above, the light source apparatus may furtherinclude a heat pipe that transfers the heat transferred from the heatreceiving member to the heat dissipating member.

According to the configuration described above, the heat of the heatreceiving member can be efficiently transferred to the heat dissipatingmember, whereby the heat dissipation efficiency in accordance with whichthe heat generated by the solid light emitter is dissipated can befurther increased. Even when the heat receiving member and the heatdissipating member are disposed so as to be apart from each other, theheat pipe can efficiently transfer the heat from the heat receivingmember to the heat dissipating member. The flexibility of the layout ofthe heat dissipating member can therefore be increased.

In the aspect described above, the deflection member may deflect at anacute angle the direction of the light having traveled along theentrance optical path, and a straight line that is perpendicular to thepassage optical path and passes through the position where the opticalaxis of the solid-state light emitter, the optical axis of thewavelength converter, and the optical axis of the diffusive opticalelement intersect with one another may be shifted in the direction inwhich the light travels along the passage optical path from the positionwhere the deflection member deflects the light having traveled along theentrance optical path.

The configuration described above allows the light source apparatus tobe readily disposed between the first imaginary line and the secondimaginary line. The arrangement described above can suppress protrusionof the light source apparatus in the first direction beyond the firstimaginary line and protrusion of the light source apparatus in thedirection opposite to the first direction beyond the second imaginaryline. Furthermore, the optical parts that guide the light outputted fromthe light source apparatus to the projection optical apparatus can bereadily disposed between the first imaginary line and the secondimaginary line. The size of the projection apparatus in the firstdirection can therefore be reduced.

In the aspect described above, the projection apparatus may include afan provided in the space between the light source apparatus and theprojection optical apparatus and located on the opposite side of theextension of the light exiting optical axis of the light sourceapparatus from the optical axis of the entrance optical path.

According to the configuration described above, the fan is disposed in aposition shifted in the first direction described above from theextension of the light exiting optical axis of the light sourceapparatus. The fan can therefore be disposed in a region that is likelyto form a dead space in the projection apparatus. Therefore, since theparts can be disposed in a packed manner in the projection apparatus,the dimensions of the projection apparatus can be reduced, and the sizeof the projection apparatus can therefore be reduced.

What is claimed is:
 1. A projection apparatus comprising: a light sourceapparatus that outputs light via an exit port; a first reflectiveoptical element that reflects at least part of the light outputted bythe light source apparatus; a second reflective optical element disposedin an optical path of the light reflected off the first reflectiveoptical element; and a projection optical apparatus disposed in anoptical axis of light that exits out of the second reflective opticalelement, wherein the projection optical apparatus has an entranceoptical path that the light that exits out of the second reflectiveoptical element enters, a deflection member that deflects a direction ofthe light traveling along the entrance optical path, and a passageoptical path along which the light that exits out of the deflectionmember travels, and an extension of a light exiting optical axis of thelight source apparatus does not coincide with an extension of an opticalaxis of the entrance optical path and intersects with an extensioncontaining an optical axis of the passage optical path.
 2. Theprojection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deflection memberdeflects at an acute angle the direction of the light traveling alongthe entrance optical path.
 3. The projection apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the extension of the light exiting optical axis of thelight source apparatus intersects with the optical axis of the passageoptical path.
 4. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe extension of the light exiting optical axis of the light sourceapparatus intersects with part of the extension containing the opticalaxis of the passage optical path, an extension extending in a directionopposite to a direction in which the light travels along the passageoptical path.
 5. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe light exiting optical axis of the light source apparatus is parallelto the optical axis of the entrance optical path.
 6. The projectionapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first reflectorthat reflects first color light passing through the first reflectiveoptical element; a first light modulator that modulates the first colorlight reflected off the first reflector; a second light modulator thatmodulates second color light separated by the second reflective opticalelement out of the light reflected off the first reflective opticalelement; a second reflector that reflects third color light separated bythe second optical reflective element out of the light reflected off thefirst optical reflective element; a third reflector that reflects thethird color light reflected off the second reflector; a third lightmodulator that modulates the third color light reflected off the thirdreflector; and a color combiner that outputs combined light that is acombination of the light modulated by the first light modulator, thelight modulated by the second light modulator, and the light modulatedby the third light modulator, wherein the light source apparatus outputswhite light, the first reflective optical element is a first colorseparator that transmits the first color light contained in the whitelight outputted by the light source apparatus and reflects the secondcolor light and the third color light contained in the white light, thesecond reflective optical element is a second color separator thatreflects the second color light and transmits the third color light outof the second color light and the third color light reflected off thefirst color separator, and an optical axis of the second color lightreflected off the second reflective optical element coincides with anoptical axis of the combined light that exits out of the color combiner.7. The projection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the extensionof the light exiting optical axis of the light source apparatuscoincides with an optical axis between the first reflective opticalelement and the first reflector.
 8. The projection apparatus accordingto claim 1, further comprising an image generator that generates imagelight from the light passing through the second reflective opticalelement and outputs the image light in a direction opposite to adirection in which the light is incident from the second reflectiveoptical element, wherein the second reflective optical element transmitsthe light incident from the first reflective optical element to causethe light to enter the image generator and reflects the image lightincident from the image generator to cause the image light to exittoward the projection optical apparatus.
 9. The projection apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the light source apparatus includes asolid-state light emitter, a wavelength converter that outputs convertedlight having a wavelength longer than a wavelength of a first portion oflight emitted by the solid-state light emitter, a diffusive opticalelement that diffuses a second portion of the light emitted by thesolid-state light emitter, and a light combiner that combines theconverted light outputted by the wavelength converter with the secondportion of the light outputted by the diffusive optical element, thelight exiting optical axis of the light source apparatus coincides withan optical axis of one of the solid-state light emitter, the wavelengthconverter, and the diffusive optical element, two of the solid-statelight emitter, the wavelength converter, and the diffusive opticalelement that have optical axes that do not coincide with the lightexiting optical axis of the light source apparatus face each other, andthe optical axes of the two optical elements are perpendicular to thelight exiting optical axis of the light source apparatus.
 10. Theprojection apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a heatreceiving member that is provided on an opposite side of the solid-statelight emitter from a light emitting side thereof and receives heat ofthe solid-state light emitter.
 11. The projection apparatus according toclaim 10, further comprising a heat dissipating member coupled to theheat receiving member in a heat transferable manner.
 12. The projectionapparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a heat pipe thattransfers the heat transferred from the heat receiving member to theheat dissipating member.
 13. The projection apparatus according to claim9, wherein the deflection member deflects at an acute angle thedirection of the light traveling along the entrance optical path, and astraight line that is perpendicular to the passage optical path andpasses through a position where an optical axis of the solid-state lightemitter, an optical axis of the wavelength converter, and an opticalaxis of the diffusive optical element intersect with one another isshifted in a direction in which the light travels along the passageoptical path from a position where the deflection member deflects thelight traveling along the entrance optical path.
 14. The projectionapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fan provided in aspace between the light source apparatus and the projection opticalapparatus and located on an opposite side of the extension of the lightexiting optical axis of the light source apparatus from the optical axisof the entrance optical path.